Real Estate Mediation
Whether it's renovation, a special assessment, or a deadlocked owners' meeting – I help owners' associations resolve conflicts before they permanently divide the community. Schedule an initial consultationOur approachCommercial Judge
Hanover Regional Court
Experience in Property Management
Managing Director of Caminades Property Management
Certified Mediator
pursuant to § 5 MediationsG / ZMediatAusbV
Typical Conflicts
When Owners’ Associations Come to Me
Most conflicts within an owners’ association smolder for a long time before anyone seeks open dialogue. I help owners, advisory boards, and management to have precisely this conversation – before a dispute turns into a lawsuit.
Owners' Meeting & Resolutions
- Meetings regularly end in conflict – important decisions are repeatedly postponed
- Two factions have formed, and every vote becomes a test of strength
- A resolution has been passed, but some owners threaten to challenge it
- Individual spokespersons dominate the meeting, while others say nothing at all
Owners & Management
- Trust in the management is disturbed – inquiries feel unanswered
- Advisory board and management work against each other instead of with each other
- The annual statement causes the same accusations every year
- Individual conflicts consume so much time that there is hardly any room left for actual management
Renovation & Costs
- The roof needs renovation – there is no agreement on scope and timing
- A high special assessment is due, and not all owners can or want to pay
- Owner-occupiers want quality, landlords want the lowest possible costs
- Structural changes such as balconies, wall boxes, or elevators divide the community
Living Together in the Building
- Noise, odors, or the use of the garden and cellar cause constant disputes
- The house rules are interpreted differently – and everyone feels they are in the right
- New owners bring different expectations, old habits clash with new demands
- A conflict between two parties gradually draws the entire building into it
My Approach
How I work
I decide nothing and I judge no one. My task is to facilitate the conversation that the community has not yet been able to have – so that in the end, there is a solution that everyone supports and that holds up in the meeting.
Neutral
I am not on any side – neither that of the owners nor that of the management. As the managing director of a property management company, I know both perspectives. I disclose this role at the beginning of every mediation so that all parties can decide freely.
Confidential
What is said in mediation stays in the room. Only what everyone has agreed upon goes into the owners’ meeting. Only this security creates the space to speak truly openly.
You decide
I moderate – the solution comes from you. No external directives, no judgment. The result is an agreement that the parties truly stand behind and that you, as a community, can resolve.
Preserving the Community
A court decides on a resolution. Mediation clarifies how to proceed – in a way that allows people to still look each other in the eye in the stairwell afterward.
Let's talk...
The initial consultation costs you nothing – neither money nor a decision. Whether you are an owner, advisory board member, or property manager: I will listen, and together we will see if mediation is the right path for your community.
Frequently Asked Questions about Real Estate Mediation
What does mediation cost in an owners' association – and who pays?
A mediation session typically lasts 90 minutes. Costs start at €120 per session. Who pays depends on who commissions the mediation: If two owners are in dispute, they usually share the costs. If the community commissions the mediation by resolution, they bear the costs jointly. In the initial consultation, I will transparently explain what you can expect.
How does mediation work in an owners' association?
It begins with an initial consultation where I understand the conflict and the parties involved. Afterward, I conduct discussions – initially individually or in small groups, depending on the situation, then jointly. Every side gets to speak, including the management if they are involved. I make no decisions: You develop the solution yourselves. The process concludes with a written agreement, which can be submitted as a resolution to the owners’ meeting if necessary.
How long does mediation take?
That depends on how many parties are involved. A dispute between two owners is often resolved after 4 sessions. For conflicts affecting the entire community, we plan the steps so that the results are available in time for the next owners’ meeting. A court case, on the other hand, often takes months or years.
What happens to the deadline for challenging a resolution if we start mediation?
The deadline continues to run. A challenge to a resolution must be filed within one month of the resolution being passed – mediation does not change this. If you wish to challenge a resolution, please clarify the deadline with a lawyer in parallel. Mediation can still be useful: often, a lawsuit can be withdrawn after an agreement is reached.
Do all owners have to participate in the mediation?
No. The people involved in the conflict participate – sometimes two owners, sometimes the advisory board and management, sometimes a larger group. If the outcome affects the entire community, it is subsequently decided at the owners’ meeting. This ensures all owners remain involved in the decision without having to attend every discussion.
Can the property management also initiate mediation?
Yes. Property managers, in particular, experience how conflicts paralyze a community and consume a lot of time. They can suggest mediation and establish contact. Whether the community commissions it is usually decided by the owners. If the management itself is part of the conflict, it participates as an involved party like everyone else – not as the client.
What happens if the other party doesn't want mediation?
Mediation requires the willingness of all parties involved; it cannot compel anyone. What I can offer you: In a confidential initial consultation, I will help you assess the situation and – if desired – formulate an invitation to the other side that is free of pressure. This is often enough to persuade a initially reluctant party to participate.
What distinguishes mediation from a lawyer or court?
A lawyer represents your interests against the other side. A court examines whether a resolution is lawful – not whether it is sensible for the community. A mediator helps all parties involved to find a solution together that they can support. I do not provide legal advice; if necessary, you should consult your lawyer. The result usually lasts longer because it was developed by the parties themselves and not imposed.
What Owners and Property Managers Say About Working Together
“Every owners’ meeting ended in conflict for us, and the roof renovation was postponed for three years. In mediation, Mr. Caminades brought both factions to the table. In the end, we had a plan that we approved at the next meeting without a single dissenting vote.”
“A conflict between two owners had tied us up for months – every message from us was perceived as taking sides. With Mr. Caminades as a neutral third party, the discussion became objective. He knows the work of property management and yet never took sides.”
“My neighbor and I were only communicating through lawyers. After two sessions, we had an arrangement we could both live with – and we greet each other in the stairwell again.”
